Method of producing and applying tabbed wrappers



J. 5. STOKES 1,827,442

METHOD OF PRODUCING AND APPLYING TABBED WRAPPERS Oct. 13, 1931.

Filed July 21. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l v v INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Oct. 13, 1931. J. s. STOKES METHOD OF PRODUCING AND APPLYING TABBEDWRAPPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1928 I N VEN TOR. 24%; J///% m!63% A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct 13, 1931 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE JOHN S. STOKES, OFHUNTINGDON VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STOKES AND SMITH COMPANY,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA METHOD OFPRODUCING AND APPLYING TABBED WRAPPRS Application filedJuly 21,

or staying elements or tabs.

In accordance with my invention, before, during, or after application ofadhesive to the box-engaging surface of a wrapper, reinforcing elementsare applied thereto along lines extending between corner notches-of thewrapper and forming the boundaries of Wrapper panels, as side panels,having turnin flaps, each of which is adapted to engage respectively anadjacent wrapper panel during a subsequent box-wrapping operation; morespecifically, the tabs are disposed to extend across or bridge thecorner notches.

Further in accordance with my invention,

to the box-engaging surface of the wrapper,-

before, or after, application ofthe aforesaid tabs, a second group oftabs are applied,

whichpreferably extend across or bridge the notches more particularly,the ends of the tabs of the first group lap tabs of the second group andpreferably terminate short of the corner notches; more specifically,each tab of the first group laps and extends between a pair'of tabs ofthe second securedto the same'side 0r endpanel of the wrapper.

My invention resides in the tabbed wrapper, preferably a one-piecewrapper, hereinafter described and claimed, the'methods of p producingorprepar'ing it, and of its application to a box, or the like,particularly an unstayed box blank, as hereinafter described andclaimed. I

For an understanding of my invention, and for an illustration of variousmodes of practising my method and the various forms of tabbed wrapper,reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in perspective, inwhich: p I

1 is a stack of uncoated sheets.

Fig. 2 is aview of, a wrapper in a later stage inwhich it is coated withadhesive.

Fig. 3 is a view of a wrapper in a later stage in which there areapplied thereto tabs.

Fig. 4 is a view of a tabbed wrapper in register with an unstayed boxblank, the

1928. 5 Serial No. 294,483.

form block of a wrapping machine being indicated in dotted lines.

Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, represent, respectively, the successive stagesof the box wrapping and staying operation.

Fig. 8- is a View of a modified form of tabbed wrapper.

Fig. 9 is a perspective iew of the tabbed wrapper of Fig. 8 in registerwith an unsfayed box blank.

Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive, represent, respectively, the successivestages of the box wrapping and staying operation.

Fig. is a view of a stack of uncoated wrappers. I

Fig. 16 is aview of a wrapper in a late stage in which it is coated withadhesive.

Fig. 17 is a view of a wrapper in a later stage in which tabs areadhesively applied thereto.

Fig. 18 is a view in a later stage in which modified tab structure isapplied thereto.

Fig. 19 is a later stage in the preparation of the wrapper shown in Fig.17 in which ad ditional tabs are applied thereto.

Fig. 20 is a modified form of tabbed wrapper. 1 Fig. 21 is a later stagein the preparation of the wrapper of Fig. 18, in which additional tabsare applied thereto.

Fig. 22 is a modified form of tabbed wrap- Figs. 23 to 26 inclusive,represent, respectively, the successive stages of the box staying andwrapping operation. 4

ig. 1 represents a stack in one piece, individually notched orcorner-cut wrappers W of suitable form, each comprising, for example,the end sections E and the side sections or panels S, the lattercomprising the turnin flaps I. The dotted lines of the figure are merelyto indicate the boundaries of the several panels or sections and are notcreases or scoring. Each wrapper may first be coated with adhesive, asglue, on.the box-engaging surface, yielding, as in Fig. 2, a coatedwrapper We, the application of the adhesive being made While the wrapperis still in the stack, Fig. 1, or, and preferably, after removal fromthe stack. Thereafter as indi-' cated in Fig. 3, one or more tabs T, ofany suitable material, and of any suitable form or size, is or areapplied to the box-engaging surface of the wrapper along the lines 8forming the boundaries between the side panels S and the ,bottom panelB, and extending between the corner notches of the wrapper. In theexample described, both sides of the tab T are free of adhesive beforetheir application to the wrapper, the adhesive coating of the wrapper Weserving to secure them. It will be understood, however, that either orboth surfaces of the tabs may be coated with adhesive beforeapplicationto the wrapper, or that the box-engaging faces of the wrapperand tabs may be substantially simultaneously coated as in Riderapplication Serial No. 227,144, filed @ctober 19, 1927.

The tabbed wrapper has now been prepared for application to a. box, andsuch application is preferably made promptly, while the coated wraper Weand its coated tabs are soft and pliable and before the adhesive coat-,ings have dried, hardened oi set. It will be it is simultaneouslybrought to box form,

wrapped and reinforced or stayed. Preferably the side panels S of thewrapper are wiped into engagement with the side walls of the'box blank,which are, before or during the wiping operation, brought to a verticalposition as shown in Fig. 5. The end flaps T are then turned inwardlyinto engagement with the end walls of the box, and immediatelythereafter the end panels E of the wrapper are wiped into engagementwith the end walls of the box in the usual manner. The portions of thewrapper projecting above the top of the walls of the box are turnedinwardly and thereafter downwardly into engagement with the interior ofthe box in the usual manner to form the completed box as shown in Fig.7. As shown most clearly in the cut-away portion of Fig. 6, the tabs Treinforce the lower edges or corners of the box formed by theintersection of the bottom of the box and the side walls thereof.

All the foregoin operations may be performed manually. Treferably,however, they will be performed by automatic mechanism. For example, thestack of wrappers W, Fig. 1, may be operated upon in an automaticadhesive-applying mechanism, such as, for example, of the generalcharacter disclosed in Nitsch et al. application, Serial No. 69,249,filed November 16, 1925, or in the adhesiveapplying unit G of Federwitzand Bailey application Serial No. 40,769, filed July 1, 1,925, or Riderapplication Serial No. 227,144, filed October 19, 1927, or Riderapplication, Serial ent No. 1,060,026, or Nitsch et al. Letters PatentNo. 1,451,782, or aforesaid Federwitz et all application Serial No.40,769. Alternatively, the tabs may be coated and applied to thewrappers While the latter are being coated with adhesive by mechanism,such as, for example, that generally of the character shown in theaforesaid Rider applications.

The tabbed wrappers may then be applied to boxes or unstayed box blanksin any suitable wrapping machine, such as of the character disclosed inSmith Letters Patent Nos. 691,329 and 778,805, or the aforesaidFederwitz et al. patent No. 1,541,036; or in the wrapping machine W ofthe aforesaid Federwitz and Bailey application to which they are fed bya conveyor C. In any case, in the wrapping machine a tabbed wrapper andbox or box blank lU come into proper register with each other in properrelation to the form block structure shown in broken lines in Fig. 4 andcomprising the form blocks F and F, operated, as well understood, intimed relation, by the usual rods f, 7 and f. During downward movementof the form blocks, the box blank is simultaneously wrapped and stayedas above described to form the wrapped and stayed box UZ.

A modification of my method of preparing a tabbed blank is'illustratedin Figs. 8' to 14 inclusive. Tothe coated wrapper We of Fig.2 is appliedthe tabs T along the lines 8 forming the boundaries between the sidepanels S of the Wrapper and the bottom panel B thereof, in thismodification the tabs T being of sufiiciengt length to, at leastpartially, bridge the corner notches between the end panels I and theadjacent end wall E with which it is destined subsequently to engage.Preferably the tabs T are of sufficient length to extend the length ofthe side panel and beyond, and across the corner notches between the endflaps at the ends of the panel and adjacent end panels E. It will beunderstood, however,"that the tab structure T may consist of one or moretabs extending along lines S. The tabbed coated wrapper We is broughtinto registering relation with a box or box blank and thereafter appliedthereto substantially as above described and shown in Figs; 4 to 7inclusive. During the turning in of the flaps T, as shown in Fig. 11, aportion of the tab T in engagement with the end panel E is pulled awayfrom the end panel, to form with that portion bridging the corner notch,a triangular section (1, which during the folding up of the end panel Eagainst the end wall of on the box-engaging surface, yielding, asindicated in Fig. 16, a coated wrapper We. Before, during or afterapplication of adhesive to the wrapper, one or more tabs t, of anysuitable form, size and material, which may, as indicated, be severedfrom ribbon or rolls R as needed, is or are applied to the boxengagingsurface of the wrapper to connect the end sections E and respectivelyadjacent side sections S by extending across or bridging at least asubstantial part of the corner notches betweenthem. The tabs 2? arepreferably of sufficient width to engage the bottom panel or section Eof the wrapper. Alternatively, the tabs t may extend substantially theentire Width of the wrapper, connecting end flaps I to a common endpanel E and bridging the corner notches between the end panel and theend flaps. To the coated wrapper We of Fig. 17 there may be appliedalong the lines 8, tabs T, which, during the subsequent wrapping andstaying operation, reinforce the lower'edge of the box formed by thejunction of the bottom and side walls thereof. As shown in Fig. 20, and,preferably, the tabs. T at their ends overlap tabs t, preferably,however, terminating short of the corner-notch to prevent excessmaterial at these points which would result in a bulge when applied to abox during the wrapping operation. i Similarly, to the tabbed wrapper ofFig. 18 there may be applied the additional tabs T, as shown in Figs.'21and 22, which reinforce the lower side edge of a box to which it isapplied. The tabs Tare preferably, as shown in Fig. 21, of sufficientlength to overlap the tabs t, preferably, however, terminating short ofthe corner notches for reasons above stated.

A box or unstayedbox blank U is then brought into register with a tabbedwrapper, which may be any one of the modified forms shown in Figs. 19 to22. For purposes of explanation, that of Fig. 20 is selected. Duringdescent of the form blocks F and F as hereinbefore described, thewrapper panels are in proper sequenceebrought into engagement with thewalls of the box and with each other to simultaneously'wrap and stay thebox. The portions of the tabs t adhering to the end panels E of thewrapper are pulled away therefrom during turning in of the flaps I andthose portions together with the respective portions bridging the cornernotches comprise sections which are brought into engagement withrespective end flaps I during folding of the end walls E- into en- 7gagement with the respective end walls of the box. The completed box asis most clearly shown in Fig. 25 is stayed at its vertical corner formedby the junction of the sides and end walls, and also along the lowerside edges formed by the intersection of the bottom and side walls. Whena wrapper of either of the modified forms shown in Figs. 21 or 22 isutilized the box is also, during the wrapping operation, stayed at thelower edges formed by the meeting of theend and bottom walls of the box.

For brevity in the appended claims the term wrapper is used in a genericsense and includes a one-piece wrapper, or a composite wrapper formed ofseveral attached components; the term box is intended to comprise astayed or unstayed box, box cover.

and an unstayed box blank; the term bottom, as'applied to the box, itwill be understood, also includes the top section or panel thereof.

What I claim is: 1. A tabbed wrapper comprising a corner notched wrapperhaving reinforcing structure thereon which bridges the gap formed by thecorner notches, and extends along lines between corner notches whichform boundaries of wrapper panels having turn-in flaps,

2. A tabbed wrapper comprlsing a wrapper having tabs which extend alonglines forming boundaries of wrapper panels hav';

ing turn-in flaps and bridge the gaps formed by corner notches betweensaid panels and adjacent panels.

3. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having adhesively attachedthereto, tabs extending across the gaps formed by corner notchesthereof, and other tabs disposed along lines extending between notches.I

4. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having adhesivelyattachedthereto, tabs extending across the gaps formed by corner notchesthereof, and other tabs disposed in lapping relation to said'first tabsand extending along lines between said corner notches.

5. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having adhesively attachedthereto, tabs, each of which extends across at least one corner notchthereof, and other tabs, each of which, at least at one end, laps one ofsaid first tabs and extends along the line between the corner notchbridged thereby and another corner notch. 6. A tabbed wrapper comprisinga wrapper having one or more panels with turn-in flaps at the end-sthereof, tab structure extending along a line forming a boundary of"said panel, and tab structure applied to the turn-1n flaps, the cornernotches between the turn-in flap of said panel and panels with whichthey are destined to engage being bridged by tab structure.

7. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having one or more panels withturn-in flaps at the ends thereof, tabs connecting said turn-in flapstoadjacent panels with which they are destined to engage and bridging thecorner notches therebetween, and tab structure extending along the linebetween said corner notches.

8. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having one or more panels withturn-in flaps at-the ends thereof, tabs connecting said turn-in flaps toadjacent panels with which they are destined to engage and bridging thecorner notche therebetween, and tab structure extending along thelinebetween said corner notches and lapping said tabs.

9. A. tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having one or more panels withturn-in flaps at the ends thereof, tabs connecting said turn-in flaps toadjacent panels with which they are destined to engage and bridging thecorner notches therebetween, and tab structure extending along the linebetween said corner notches, lapping said tabs,.and terminating short ofsaid corner notches.

10, A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having tabs, each of whichextends across a pair of corner notches, and tabs, each of which extendsalong a line between the corresponding corner notches of said pairsthereof.

11. A tabbed wrapper comprising a wrapper having tabs, each of whichextends across a pair of corner notches, and tabs, each of which extendsalong a line between the corresponding corner 'notches of said pairsthereof and laps the first of said tabs bridging said correspondingnotches.

12. The method of preparing a tabbed wrapper which comprises, adhesivelyapplying, to the box-engaging surface of a wrapper having one or morepanels with turn-in flaps, tab structure extending along a line forminga boundary of said panel, and tab structure to the turn-in flapsthereof, the corner notches between said flaps and panels with whichthey are destined to engage being bridged by tab structure, and theadhesive securing said. tab structure being simultaneously fluid.

13. The method of preparing a tabbed wrapper which comprises, adhesivelyapplying, to the box-engaging surface of a wrapper having one or morepanels wth turn-in flaps, tab structure extending along a line forming aboundary of said panel, and tab structure bridging the corner notchesbeeanna tween said turn-in flaps and panels with which they are destinedto'engage, the adhesive securing said tab structures beingsimultaneously fluid.

14. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box which comprises,adhesively securing tab structure to the box-engaging face of thewrapper along lines forming boundaries of wrapper panels having turn-inflaps, and before setting of the adhesive, applying the wrapper and tabstructure to the exterior of a box with the tab structure overlying thebox edges formed by the box bottom and the walls covered by said wrapperpanels.

' 15.'The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box which comprises,adhesively securing tab structure to the box engaging face of thewrapper along lines forming boundaries of wrapper panels having turn-inflaps, bridging the corner notches between said flaps and wrapper panelswith which they are destined to engage by said structure, and beforesetting of the adhesive, applying the wrapper and tab structure to theexterior of a box with the tab structure overlying the box edges formedby the box bottom and the walls covered by said wrappe panels, and withthe corner-notch bridging portions thereof overlying trihedral cornersof the box.

\16. The method of applying a tabbedwi'apper to a box which comprises,adhesive ly securing to the box-engaging face of the wrapper, tabsextending across corner notches thereof and tabs extending along linesbetween said corner notches, and before setting across the cornernotches thereof and. tabs extending along lines between the cornernotches, and before setting of the adhesive, applying the wrapper andtabs to the exterior of a box with the first-named tabs overlying bottomedges of the box and with the bridging portions of the second-named tabsoverlying trihedral corners of the-box.

18. The method of applying a tabbed wrapper to a box which comprises,adhesively securing to the box-engaging face of the wrapper in lappingrelation, tabs extending across the corner notches thereof and tabsextending along lines between the corner notches, in any sequence, orsimultaneously, applying adhesive to the box-engaging faces of said tabsand wrapper, and before setting of any of the adhesive, applying thewrapper and tabs to a box.

19. A tabbed Wrapper comprising a wrapper having tabs thereon at leastone of which is disposed along a line extending between corner notchesat opposite ends of a wrapper panel having turn-in fl aps. JOHN S.STOKES.

